PROGRESS OF THE COLLEGE. 319 



similar institutions. Hence it may deserve the friendliness of 

 all persons, whatsoever may be their particular personal 

 attachments, who are truly in love with culture as a universal 

 good. 



The newness of the design — the idea of an Agricultural 

 College being extremely modern — occasions delay in attaining 

 onr ideal school. It is now near twelve years since the gen- 

 eral court accepted the Act of congress making provision for 

 agricultural and industrial education. 



It inspires us with confidence in the future, when we regard 

 the noble men who gathered at the planting of the little acorn 

 — named the Massachusetts Agricultural College — and who 

 watched in faith the seed would not die in the soil, and who 

 from time to time have cared for the tender plantling, — some 

 providing it nourishment by appeals to the representatives of 

 the people, others giving both time and money as though it 

 was expected to bear fruit for them. It is no longer small. 

 Four fruit-crops have been gathered and each autumn wit- 

 nesses another crop. If the fruit is good, and the com- 

 munity is to judge of this, then nourishment shall come from 

 its fruitage. 



But dismissing metaphor, we can say we think the College 

 is acquiring each year a firmer hold upon the good-will of our 

 community ; that the institution is already exerting a whole- 

 some and considerable influence, aside from its daily influence 

 upon the young men who wait upon its teaching. The signs 

 of this are found in our agricultural press ; in our board 

 reports ; in a tendency to closer reasoning of writers and 

 speakers upon rural topics, and in increasing appreciation of 

 audiences of scientific method. 



If we are to witness for some time to come, on the part of 

 the College, somewhat of unrest and of effort, we may know 

 it is not a mere struggle to continue as it is, so much as it is 

 a struggle to be greater than it is. It springs, in large part, 

 of the desire to enjoy the unfolding of the agricultural educa- 

 tional idea to the utmost realization of the fullness and prog- 

 ress it signifies to any person. 



The past year, in our view, has witnessed a growth and 

 development equal, at least, to any like period of the college 

 history. During the earlier years events quickly succeeded 



